IP Library Granted Patent US 11,971,596
Granted Patent B2
US 11,971,596 · App. 17/270,710 · Granted Apr 30, 2024

Hybrid enclosures for power and optical fiber, and enclosures including multiple protective lids

Inventors: David Thomas (Chester, GB); David T. Lambert (Manchester, GB); David Palfreyman (Rochdale, GB); Joshua Simer (Chaska, MN); Thomas F. Craft, Jr. (Murphy, TX); Rudy Musschebroeck (Wemmel, BE); Andrew Williams (Llandudno, GB); Willis F. James (Wylie, TX)
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
G02B6/4448G02B6/4442H02G3/081H02G3/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,971,596
App. No.
17/270,710
Filed
Feb 23, 2021
Granted
Apr 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2874
USPC
385/135
Abstract

Hybrid enclosures for power and optical fiber are provided herein. A hybrid enclosure includes a power conductor terminal and an optical fiber splice area that are in separate first and second trays, respectively. In some embodiments, the power conductor terminal is a terminal of a circuit that is configured to supply power exceeding 150 Watts. Enclosures including multiple protective lids over power conductor terminal blocks are also provided.

Claims (54)

1. A power and fiber splice enclosure comprising:

a first tray comprising a power conductor terminal;

a second tray comprising an optical fiber splice area;

a third tray comprising an optical fiber storage tray; and

a protective lid over the power conductor terminal in the first tray.

2. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 ,

wherein the first tray further comprises a power-in port, a power-out port, and first and second power tap ports, and

wherein the power conductor terminal comprises a terminal of one of the power-in port, the power-out port, the first power tap port, or the second power tap port.

3. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 2 , further comprising first, second, third, and fourth circuit breakers that comprise, or are coupled to, the power-in port, the power-out port, the first power tap port, and the second power tap port, respectively.

4. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a locking mechanism that is configured to automatically lock the protective lid in response to the power conductor terminal being energized.

5. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a compartment comprising the power conductor terminal in the first tray,

wherein the protective lid comprises a transparent lid on the compartment.

6. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 5 ,

wherein the compartment and the first tray comprise respective fiber-free trays, and

wherein the second and third trays comprise respective power-free trays.

7. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the power conductor terminal comprises a terminal of a circuit that is configured to supply power exceeding 150 Watts.

8. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a tray attachment structure, wherein the second and third trays are hingedly coupled to the tray attachment structure.

9. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a power connector on an outside of the power and fiber splice enclosure.

10. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , wherein a base portion of the power and fiber splice enclosure comprises a metal ground terminal thereon.

11. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 ,

wherein the protective lid comprises a first protective lid,

wherein the power conductor terminal comprises a terminal of a first power conductor terminal block in the first tray, and

wherein the power and fiber splice enclosure further comprises:

a second power conductor terminal block in the first tray; and

a second protective lid over the second power conductor terminal block.

12. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a power plug on an external surface of the first tray.

13. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a DIN rail mount circuit breaker in the first tray,

wherein the power conductor terminal in the first tray comprises a terminal of the DIN rail mount circuit breaker.

14. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising surge-protection circuitry in the first tray.

15. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a fiber optic tube that is in the optical fiber storage tray;

an optical fiber that is connected to the optical fiber splice area in the second tray; and

a power conductor that is configured to supply power exceeding 150 Watts and is connected to the power conductor terminal.

16. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a visual power-on warning indicator that is configured to indicate that the power conductor terminal is energized; and/or

a locking mechanism that is configured to automatically lock the protective lid in response to the power conductor terminal being energized.

17. A power and fiber splice enclosure comprising:

a first tray comprising a power-in port, a power-out port, and a power tap port;

a second tray comprising an optical fiber splice area;

a third tray comprising an optical fiber storage tray;

a protective lid on the first tray over the power-in port, the power-out port, and the power tap port; and

a fourth tray comprising the first tray therein.

18. The power and fiber splice enclosure of claim 17 ,

wherein the first and fourth trays comprise respective fiber-free trays,

wherein the second and third trays comprise respective power-free trays,

wherein the power tap port comprises a first power tap port,

wherein the power and fiber splice enclosure further comprises a second power tap port in the first tray under the protective lid, and

wherein the power-in port, the power-out port, and the first and second power tap ports comprise ports of a circuit that is configured to supply power exceeding 150 Watts.

19. A hybrid enclosure comprising a power conductor terminal and an optical fiber splice area in separate first and second trays, respectively, wherein the power conductor terminal comprises a terminal of a circuit that is configured to supply power exceeding 150 Watts.

20. The hybrid enclosure of claim 19 , further comprising at least one power-in/out port and at least one power tap port in the first tray,

wherein the power conductor terminal comprises a terminal of one of the at least one power-in/out port or the at least one power tap port,

wherein the first tray comprises a fiber-free tray, and

wherein the second tray comprises a power-free tray.